Coyote Campground, Kisatchie National Forest

🌲 Introduction / Overview: Your Primitive Basecamp in the Kisatchie Wilderness

For Louisiana locals who truly want to unplug, embrace the great outdoors, and enjoy a rugged, primitive camping experience, Coyote Campground in the Kisatchie National Forest is a highly valued gem. This campground is situated within the National Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve, offering a distinctly natural and out-of-the-way setting away from the noise and crowds of more developed parks. It caters to those who are self-sufficient and prefer the quiet seclusion of a National Forest setting.

Coyote Campground is well-known to a specific, adventurous segment of the Louisiana community. It serves as a designated hunter camp during season but is open for general forest visitors and campers year-round. Critically, it is a key access point to the vast Sandstone Trail System, making it a popular hub for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riders, including those with ATVs and dirt bikes. The atmosphere is generally quiet and peaceful, perfect for car camping, tent setups, and small trailers, provided campers are prepared for minimal facilities.

The core appeal of Coyote Campground is its combination of free camping and immediate, direct access to the best trails and hunting grounds the Kisatchie Ranger District has to offer. Visitors often praise the dark skies and the tranquility that comes from being deep within the longleaf pine ecosystem.

📍 Location and Accessibility: Deep in the Red Dirt Preserve

Coyote Campground is located in the heart of the Kisatchie National Forest, near the town of Provencal. While it requires a drive on National Forest roads to reach, its location provides instant access to thousands of acres of protected wilderness.

• Address: Par Rd 830, Provencal, LA 71468, USA

The campground’s access is primarily via Forest Service roads, which can be dirt or gravel and are generally well-maintained, but visitors should be prepared for typical forest road conditions. Key points about the location include:

• In the Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve: The camp is positioned specifically within this preserve, offering prime access for hunting and wildlife viewing.

• Sandstone Trail System Access: It provides direct OHV access to the extensive Sandstone Trail system, a network of trails popular for ATV, motorcycle, and mountain bike riding.

• Proximity to Natchitoches: The historic city of Natchitoches is approximately 30 minutes away, allowing for day trips to access larger supplies, dining, and other amenities when needed.

• Limited Proximity Services: Campers should note the remoteness. While close to major trails, essential services like fuel and convenience stores will require driving back towards Provencal or Natchitoches.

🛠️ Services Offered: Embracing the Primitive Experience

Coyote Campground is a primitive, established camping area managed by the U.S. Forest Service. This means that services are intentionally limited, reflecting its purpose as an out-of-the-way wilderness camp. Campers must be fully prepared to be self-sufficient, especially regarding water.

• Camping Fee: Free (No charge for camping, though trail riding may require a permit/fee in the area, depending on use).

• Reservations: Available on a first-come, first-served basis only. There is no reservation system.

• Water: No Potable Water is available on site. Campers must bring their own drinking and cooking water.

• Toilets: Composting/Pit Toilets are provided. These eco-friendly, arthropod-proof facilities are maintained and generally well-stocked, though they are a rustic alternative to flush toilets.

• Hookups: None—No electric, water, or sewer hookups are available. This is a dry camping location suitable for fully self-contained RVs, car campers, and tent campers.

• Trash: No Trash Pickup is available. All visitors must adhere strictly to the Pack-In, Pack-Out policy to maintain the cleanliness of the forest.

• Stay Limit: The maximum stay permitted is typically 14 days, in line with National Forest regulations for primitive camping.

• Pet Policy: Pets are welcome, but owners are responsible for their behavior and ensuring they do not disturb the wildlife or other campers.

🌟 Features / Highlights: Trail Access and Serene Seclusion

The highlights of Coyote Campground center on its function as a portal to adventure and a haven of natural peace.

• Immediate Access to Sandstone Trail: The primary feature is the direct, authorized access for OHVs (ATVs, motorcycles, etc.) to the 36-mile Sandstone Trail System, making it an ideal base for off-road enthusiasts.

• Designated Hunter Camp: For those pursuing the abundant wildlife in the Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve, this site offers an established, convenient base camp during hunting season.

• Free Camping: The status as a free established campground makes it an excellent, budget-friendly option for long-term campers and outdoor adventurers.

• Spacious, Wooded Sites: The area offers a mix of open and shaded spots with space for both tents and trailers. Sites typically feature a fire ring/grill and picnic table, promoting cozy evenings under the stars.

• Unbeatable Tranquility: Visitors consistently note the extreme quiet and peacefulness, with virtually no highway noise, providing prime conditions for relaxation, stargazing, and listening to nature.

• Wildlife Viewing: Being deep within the forest, the camp offers superior opportunities for wildlife viewing, with frequent sightings of deer, bobcats, and native birdlife, plus the mesmerizing sight of fireflies after dark.

📞 Contact Information

As a primitive, non-reservable Forest Service camp, contact is typically made through the managing district office for current conditions or detailed trail information.

• Address (General Area): Par Rd 830, Provencal, LA 71468, USA

• Kisatchie Ranger District Phone: (318) 472-1840

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✨ What is Worth Choosing

Coyote Campground is the premier choice for the Louisiana camper who owns an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV/ATV), prioritizes direct trail access over modern amenities, and seeks a free, secluded, and genuinely primitive experience deep within the Kisatchie National Forest.

You should choose Coyote Campground if:

• You Are an ATV/OHV Rider or Hunter: This is one of the few designated camping areas that gives you immediate, convenient access to the entire Sandstone Trail System or the surrounding Red Dirt Wildlife Management Preserve for hunting.

• You Are Self-Contained: You have a fully self-contained vehicle (RV/Trailer/Car) and do not need electricity, potable water hookups, or modern flush restrooms. You are comfortable bringing all of your own water and packing out all trash.

• You Crave Seclusion and Silence: If your definition of a perfect weekend involves a quiet, secluded spot, no light pollution for spectacular stargazing, and being surrounded by the sounds of the Louisiana woods, the free, out-of-the-way setting of Coyote Camp is unmatched.